Crowds are already building outside St Andrews Cathedral in Sydney where Kate and William will be met by the Archbishop of Sydney Dr Glenn Davies and the Dean of Sydney Phillip Jensen for a private Easter Sunday service this morning.

Crowds arrive early to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple who will attend an Easter SundSource:DailyTelegraph

They will view the First Fleet Bible, used in the first Christian service held in Australia in 1788, before signing the prayer book.

Kate and William’s next engagement is Taronga Zoo at 2.25pm where they will view the Australian nightlife display, including the bilby display.

They will unveil a plaque to mark the official naming of the Prince George Bilby Exhibit.

Kate and William will take in the kangaroo, giraffe and elephant enclosure before watching the bird and native animal show.

They will leave for Government House at 5.40pm.

Hours earlier Kate had a what was a bittersweet private moment on such a public day — meeting privately with war widows.

Nicole Pearce said her meeting with the Duchess was a surreal and privileged experience but desperately wished it could have been under different circumstances.

It’s been almost seven years since a roadside bomb claimed the life of her husband, Trooper David Pearce, just two weeks into a tour of Afghanistan.

Will and Kate at the Waratah’s game at Allianz Stadium. Picture: Attila Szilvasi.Source:News Corp Australia

Her daughters Stephanie and Hanna lost their father. She lost the man she loved and, for too many years, any sense of a normal life. Nothing can bring her 41-year-old husband back but she was touched by the Duchess’s heartfelt concern.

Kate and Prince William spoke with four families who lost loved ones in Afghanistan and Iraq during their tour of Queensland’s Amberley RAAF base.

The Duchess looks worn out during the game. Picture: Attila Szilvasi.Source:News Corp Australia

“She asked how long David had been in the military for and how long he’d been overseas when he was killed,” Mrs Pearce said. “She was sincerely quite sad for us to think David was only over there for two weeks when he was killed. She seemed very, very genuine and she was very sweet.”

“I’d rather have Dave here. The reason we’re here is because he’s not,” Mrs Pearce said.

“But I think he would be really proud, really honoured to think we had an opportunity like this.” The royal couple also spoke with the grieving families of Lance Corporal Stjepan “Rick”

Milosevic — one of three Australians killed by a rogue Afghan soldier in 2012, Private Matthew Lambert and Flight Lt Paul Pardoel, who died in Iraq.

In a nod to the military’s symbol of remembrance, the Duchess wore an elegant white and blue poppy print dress by one of her favourite labels, L.K. Bennett, which was teamed with a clutch bag by Australian designer Oroton.

The dress, which retailed for about $440, was sold out online before the visit, but within minutes of Kate’s appearance, versions were being offered on eBay for up to $747.

Earlier the couple had bowed their heads after planting a tree at a memorial garden, in honour of the service and sacrifice of Royal Australian Air Force personnel. But they also made time for some lighter moments.

There was some banter over just who would sit in the hot seat of a F/A-18F Super Hornet.

“Do you fancy jumping in the back?” were William’s not-so-smooth words to Kate as the pair inspected the machines.

Instead of taking up her husband’s offer, the Duchess hopped into the cockpit and got to know the controls of the fighter jet while William squeezed into the back seat.

The couple were then whisked to Brisbane’s Convention Centre for a lunch reception with 200 people, including dignitaries Premier Campbell Newman and Governor Penelope Wensley, as well as rugby league player Johnathan Thurston and former Olympian Natalie Cook, before they greeted fans outside.

They were almost an hour late and it was more like a royal sprint than a walkabout but, for the estimated 10,000 people who lined the streets in the blistering heat, it didn’t matter — they still got a taste of what the British call Katemania.

Their Royal Highness The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive at RAAF Base AmberleySource:News Corp Australia